Raven and Jason

Nice work finding this. What concrete steps can be taken to help people in this situation? I detest the feeling of wanting to help someone living 20 minutes away from me, but feeling powerless to do so.

Thanks for posting this. It's a very compelling video. I've posted my own take on this on my own site. I sincerely hope that Raven and Jason have already moved to Winnipeg and put some distance between themselves and an environment that can only be likened to a black hole.

Thanks for posting this link Sean,

The downtown east side has claimed the life of someone I know personally. And sadly, there are thousands more that will likely suffer his same fate because they are unable to get the treatment they need. Currently, the DTES is receiving millions of dollars in funding for support and treatment programs yet little progress has been made in the area.

Recently, I have been asking many of the homeless people that approach me for pocket change where they are from. Most commonly, they're from somewhere else in Canada. I have come to realize that not only is the DTES a provincial government problem, it is a Nation wide problem. Governments from all over Canada have encouraged their homeless to come to Vancouver, predominantly for its climate and social services. At one time the Alberta government was even offering free tickets to the homeless so they could get here. As a result, all the areas support systems are completely back logged - making progress somewhat impossible.

I think governments all across Canada should be helping finance solving the DTES problem, as many of them are direct contributors.

As for Jonathon's previous comment (and related blog entry), people are a lot more complex than rats. People like Raven and Jason don't do drugs because of their environment - they suffer from serious mental and physical addictions that require counseling and medication - just to try and beat.

Interestingly enough, I found it very warm and touching in that it cut through the usual condescending and sensationalized desolation, squalor and despair that we become numb to, giving the issues of survival, addiction and support in the DTES a much more human face than we're usually shown via the media. Thanks for posting.

"As for Jonathon's previous comment (and related blog entry), people are a lot more complex than rats. People like Raven and Jason don't do drugs because of their environment - they suffer from serious mental and physical addictions that require counseling and medication - just to try and beat."

Matt, I actually agree with you, but just so we're absolutely clear, I'm not actually comparing residents of the Downtown Eastside to vermin.

Citing a scientific study in which animals are tested and then extrapolating that research to human behavior is a longstanding tradition. The caveat that test results on animals may not actually apply to human beings is pretty well understood. Thanks again for posting this, Sean.